Survey finds video games top holiday wish lists

Blu-Ray not being adopted by consumers, says survey

A recent poll by Harris Interactive reveals that, while Blu-Ray may have been proclaimed the winner last year in the high definition format wars, it’s not being adopted by rank and file consumers. Meanwhile, High Definition television sets are being embraced by Americans across the line. According to the data, nearly half of American households are now using high definition televisions, but only 11 percent own a HD enabled media device and only 7 percent own a Blu-Ray player.

The price of Blu-Ray players isn’t helping matters any: the number of Blu-Ray owners is likely to remain flat due of price and competition from other High Definition technologies. The purchase of both HD players are up ever so slightly from 2008 - 3 percent for Blu-ray and 5 percent for HD players. Perhaps Microsoft gave up a little too soon when it discontinued its HD hard drive add-on for Xbox 360? Blu-Ray also is facing some stiff competition from high definition content on cable, satellite, and the internet.

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Netflix Survey: Wii Streaming Service

A Netflix survey being present to some subscribers of the popular “by mail and Internet” DVD rental service may indicate some future plans of the service on platforms other than the Xbox 360, reports Joystiq. The survey asks participants to read a description of a Netflix product and to answer questions about it.

 That product consist of “Netflix Instant Streaming Disc” that users would put into their Wii, enabling them to stream an entertainment selection from its library of 12,000 titles. The disc would apparently have to be inserted in the Wii to use the service, but all the functionalities associated with Netflix streaming solution would apply: rewind, pause, fast forward, etc.

If nothing else the survey proves that Netflix would love to be able to break into the lucrative Wii space, but it doesn’t mean that the idea is a lock either… and if Netflix “is” considering streaming content via the Wii, what of the PS3? Wouldn’t that be an easier platform to get into to? We think yes, but there’s no survey for that.

There’s one other thing the survey proves: The Xbox 360 deal Netflix has going has certainly kept the company in the black in the early part of 2009. More deals mean more money.

Crispy Knowledge Quiz: 1/24-2/4

Here at Crispy HQ, we want to make sure you’re paying attention and we’ve decided to make it worth your while, again!. The first person to answer all (or most) of the following questions drawn from last week’s articles correctly will win a copy of  Skate 2. Excited? Get Started right now:

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Vancouver Film School Examines Game Industry Employment

Although it’s been rough recently for the job market on the whole, things are looking better for the video game industry and, if a recent report from the Vancouver Film School is any indication, it’s a field most of its graduates are happy with. Produced for prospective, current and past VFS Game Design students, the new report focuses on the $42 billion industry, presenting findings from its Game Design Graduate Salary and Job Satisfaction Survey.

Among the survey’s findings:

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The Crispy Knowledge Quiz 1/16-1/23

Here at Crispy HQ, we want to make sure you’re paying attention and we’ve decided to make it worth your while, too. The first person to answer all (or most) of the following questions drawn from last week’s articles correctly will win a copy of Namco Bandai’s swordfighting action game Afro Samurai.

Send Us Your Answers Now

GameStrata Survey: 18 - 48, The Spending Years

According to a survey conducted by GameStrata, gamers spend on average more than $30,500 on games and gaming hardware during the years of 18-48. The survey, which solicited the opinions of “hundreds” of GameStrata members, also found a strong correlation between digital purchases and the Xbox 360. Online multiplayer was another important reason that most surveyed seemed to prefer the Xbox 360 over other platforms. Some respondents also mentioned the PS3 as their platform of choice for micro transactions and multiplayer.

85 percent of respondents confirmed the purchase of a virtual good in the last month and nearly 40 percent said that they play 6-10 hours online per week. The study also found that having a social network helped foster and encourage micro transactions and multiplayer.

“Though most gamers are already likely to purchase virtual goods online, participating in a social network and seeing friends update their games and systems may expedite the process and help gamers make buying decisions faster,” says GameStrata.

You can learn more about GameStrata and the survey by visiting www.gamestrata.com.